Former Manchester United defender Alex Telles believes the form of ‘the best left-back in the Premier League’ Luke Shaw was a major reason why he struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford.
Well, he’ll always have that Champions League stunner against Villarreal to show for his time at Old Trafford, Alex Telles producing a fine tribute to Paul Scholes’ iconic Bradford volley with Bruno Fernandes taking on the David Beckham role.
The Brazilian’s short-lived spell as a Manchester United player will not be remembered for much else, that’s for sure, limited to only nine top-flight appearances in his debut season after fellow left-back Luke Shaw rose to the challenge and produced what remains arguably a career-best campaign to keep his competition at arms’ length.
Luke Shaw remains Manchester United’s no 1 left-back
“(My lack of game time) was a mixture of adaptation and they also have a great player in Luke Shaw. The best left-back in the Premier League,” Telles now tells Sapo Desporto.
“In my first year, we shared the games and the place in the starting eleven. But we got along really well. He’s a friend I have. He has a lot of quality.
“Under these circumstances, he had a lot of time at the club, (but) I managed to play 25 games per season. 50 games at a club like United (in two seasons) is positive.
“It was very good for my career.”
Alex Telles joined Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia
Man United paid around £15 million to sign Telles, who had a reputation as one of Europe’s most creative full-backs at the time, during the summer of 2020. Three years later, the 12-time Brazil international would jump at the chance to join the Saudi Arabian revolution, reuniting with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Shaw, meanwhile, is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign due to an injury he picked up in that nervy, Rasmus Hojlund-inspired 2-1 win at Luton Town a few weeks ago. Sofyan Amrabat was drafted in at left-back – to pretty decent effect – by Erik ten Hag during Wednesday’s late 1-0 FA Cup fifth round triumph at Nottingham Forest.
Casemiro scored the winner in the 89th minute following another Fernandes set-piece delivery.
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